Family: Characidae
Distribution: Hyphessobrycon mutabilis choses to make its home in the Cerrado region of the Upper Xingu River basin of South America. It likes clear streams that are shallow, have sandy bottoms with some mud and thick vegetation.
PH: 6.0 – 7.5 pH
Temperature: 22 – 28 °C (72 – 82 °F)
Hardness: 2 – 15 dH
Description: Still on the small end of the scale, Hyphessobrycon mutabilis won’t even reach 3cm when fully mature (2.7cm being the largest recorded). They can be identified by a think longitudinal stripe on its body, extending from the back of its head to the caudal fin rays. One end of the stripe is a dark metallic green which fades into a dark golden colour by the time it reaches the other. When the stripe ends at the caudal fin base, it continues into an elongated caudal spot which spills over the fin’s rays. The upper edge of the stripe is followed by a bright orange band of colour from the area around the dorsal fin to the caudal fin end. The intense colouration of Hyphessobrycon mutabilis doesn’t end there, with the fish also sporting red nostrils, pale yellow fins (with each caudal fin lobe displaying a bright yellow spot), and an eye that has a vibrant red on the upper three-quarters with gold below.
As they are unusual in the hobby, there is limited information available regarding social behaviours. However, if Hyphessobrycon mutabilis is anything like its relatives, it will be active, peaceful and prefer to be kept in schools of at least six.
Diet: Feed your Hypessobrycon mutabilis a diet that is rich in both flakes and live foods. Use flakes or pellets as their staple and treat them with the occasional live foods.
Breeding: As this fish is uncommon in the hobby, there are currently no breeding reports (successful or otherwise) available. If you want to give it a go, try the common Hyphessobrycon method.
Place a year old male and a year old female in separate conditioning tanks. Feed them on live food (blood worms, mosquito larvae, and the like) for three weeks before you introduce them into a breeding tank. Ensure the tank has fine-leaved plants, dim lighting, soft filtration and a warm temperature (26°C). It may take up to three days for the pair to spawn. If nothing has happened, repeat the conditioning process.
Remove the parents-to-be from the tank once eggs appear on the leaves, before they start to devour them. The roe will begin to hatch after 24 hours and once the fry are free swimming try feeding them baby brine, Infusoria or crushed flake.
As it is unknown whether the eggs of the Hyphessobrycon mutabilis are light-sensitive or not, you should err on the side of caution and keep them in as much dark as possible.
Comments: Hyphessobrycon mutabilis is rare in the hobby and therefore there is limited information available. Subsequently, information pertaining to the Hyphessobrycon species in general has been included.
Article/Books:
Recommended Compatible Species: They should live happily with other Tetra species (particularly the Neon Tetra and Black Tetra). They also should be good tank mates with Discus, Apistogramma‘s like Apistogramma Cacatouides and Apistogramma Borelli, Corydoras Catfish (particularly Corydoras Sterbai and Corydoras aeneus) Angelfish, Clown loach, the common Guppy and Platy and most Gourami (such as the Blue Gourami and Dwarf Gourami like the Honey Gourami) Also should live happily with most Danio (particularly the Zebra Danio and Pearl Danio) and also many Killifish could make great tank mates.
Originally posted 2010-04-21 07:36:52. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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